For Megan Jayne, Manager of Development at the San Diego Padres Foundation, the path wasn't linear. But every twist, every setback, and every tear led her exactly where she was meant to be.

Megan’s mother recently found a book report she wrote in second grade about Babe Ruth. Looking at it now, Megan's mom had one simple reflection: “It was just destined to be. It just took you a minute to get there.”

That “minute” spanned a decade, included a Marine Corps enlistment, motherhood, and a community college journey that took time. But today, Megan works in baseball at the intersection of sports, philanthropy, and community impact – exactly the career she had always dreamed of.

After high school, Megan joined the Marine Corps with the goal of going to college afterward. While her parents had never attended college themselves, they insisted that Megan prioritize higher education and it was a promise that Megan was committed to from the start.

But life didn’t make that promise easy. Megan had her son during her third year of enlistment and began the long process of pursuing her education while raising a child.

“What should have taken me two years took me about seven,” Megan recalled. “I changed my major twice and some semesters I could only take one course, but MiraCosta College was the perfect place to go at my own speed.”

As a self-motivated leader, Megan was driven to navigate higher education on her own. And MiraCosta College allowed her the space to explore her interests and find her passion. She bounced from kinesiology to nursing, eventually realizing neither path was right for her. Then came her ‘aha’ moment when she thought back to what she cared about most as a child.

Growing up in a small town in Virginia, Megan attended a Washington Wizards program where students could meet front office staff, players, and coaches. Hearing about the community impact team that made such programs possible planted a seed she didn't recognize at the time.

Throughout her time at MiraCosta College, that vision pulled her forward. She pursued her education while balancing work, family responsibilities, and support from her family.

“You meet certain people along the way that just keep pushing you forward and telling you not to give up,” Megan reflected. “That was my experience at MiraCosta College. I love school, I love learning, but it's also a grind when you're trying to balance being a good mom, working, and making sure assignments get completed on time.”

But Megan’s commitment never waivered. Whether it meant waking up at 5:00am to start coursework or staying up late to finish a paper, Megan had one goal in mind. And after completing her required courses and securing her degree at MiraCosta College, Megan transferred to San Diego State University.

“There were a lot of tears,” shared Megan. “There were so many obstacles in my way, but I always knew I was meant for more. I had a really good, small circle of people who encouraged me every step of the way and I’m so grateful for their support.”

Graduating from San Diego State University led Megan into a development role within their athletics department. That chance connected her with the right people at the Padres, where her current position eventually became available.

But the journey wasn't as random as it might appear. Years earlier, Megan had scoured LinkedIn with the sole intention of finding organizations at the intersection of baseball and the military. Naturally, there weren’t many. But there were a few. And her connection, combined with her work at San Diego State's Sports Business Initiative, eventually led her to the Padres Foundation.

“It's the wildest thing how it all fell into place,” Megan reflected. “Three different avenues got me to where I am right now.”

Today, Megan works at the Padres Foundation, the baseball organization’s official 501(c)(3) charitable arm. The role feels deeply personal. Growing up in a small blue-collar town meant limited access to programs, but her church occasionally received reduced-rate tickets for families to see minor league baseball games.

“You paid five dollars, and it didn't seem like much, but those were the best memories,” Megan shared. “Being able to give back in a similar capacity means so much. I can make a difference by working for a nonprofit like the Padres Foundation.”

Looking back now, Megan embraces the struggles that brought her to her dream career.

She noted, “Don't expect your path to be linear, and it's okay if it's not. Nothing in life is a straight path. I was really hard on myself about doing it out of order. But there's no right order.”

For the girl who wrote a book report about Babe Ruth in second grade, to the woman who has always wanted to help others, the answer was there all along. It just took her a minute to get there. And MiraCosta College was where she found the strength to keep going until she did.